A.R.E CX HD installed and Silverwing Roof Top Tent

Oh yeah, awesome. How the hell are you gonna get a tandem back there?

 

Following this.

I have the same cap on my truck and looking for ways to mod it and make it work better for me.

 

I noticed my struts already leaking and failing on my side windows. Time to find a replacement.

 

I did the toytech 3pack, gave it 1.5”

 

Yikes. How often do you use them? Seems kinda quick to be replacing struts.

 

All the time. Everyday just about. I do think they are cheap ass struts though.

 

That’s a huge bummer dude. Starting to make me wonder if I chose poorly.

Ah well. Gonna run it into the ground I guess and see what happens.

 

Nah no worries I’ve never had a camper shell that didn’t do that eventually.
I’ve had Leer,
Snug top and ARE.
All the same parts basically.
Don’t worry about it.

 

Ok, I got off my ass and ordered some struts. Side windows are 12” 30lb. Set of 2 is between 17-24$ on Amazon. I’ll update on how they work.

 

Haha you’re doing the Lord’s work.

Looking forward to seeing the update!

EDIT: I’ve been taking a ton of measurements myself and I have some ideas. I’m not too interested in a RTT but I do plan on throwing a roof rack up on the bars, most likely a Prinsu if I can figure out how best to mount it.

Also want to try and utilize the windoor area to try and rig up a molle system for some modular mounting options. I feel like something like this could be rigged up to the frame inside with some support and hardware from Lowe’s while retaining airflow when popping open the windoors.

 

Welcome to the good life @Chowdah I pretty much stole all the good ideas from @NoRcptn. Looking forward to see how you deck yours out.

Best addition to the cap was adding the Decked system so I can reach anything from the platform when the windoor is open. Short guys problems. Also old man problems solved, I no longer have to jump in and out of the bed of my truck to stack store and remove gear.

 

That’s a bad ass idea. I have the RTT. Not sold on it. It was way easier just sleeping in the bed. But it does open up my bed space. Looking into fab if a foldable extension to the decked system to add the legroom for sleeping. Kinda like a table leaf. We’ll see how it goes.
Interested in your Molle rack ideas.

 

Ok I received my order of new struts. Old on the left.

Set of 2 Gas Lift Support Struts.
Extended Length 12 Inches Force 30 Lbs

$20 2PCS 30 LB/12" Universal Lift Supports Ball Socket Rod Connector Gas Spring Shock Struts Truck Toolbox Lid Truck Window Topper Boat Hatch Weather Guard

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FCL1YTJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_J7NSSAVKMGJ2T85QKSK2?_encoding=UTF8

First thing I noticed is all 4 of my windoor struts were leaking. When I went to remove the first one, my window would no longer hold up with only one attached. Second, with a new strut installed, a single strut would support the window. The new ones seems noisy, but a little grease (honey slick) and I thought I cured it. Turned out it was the roller hinge and rubber gasket above the window. Not Fixed just a little squeaky. Also the new ones are a soft opening. So they hit 90% then slow open the rest of the way.
So far so good…..
Leakers



I was a little aggressive with the first one and accidentally popped the retainer clips off. Not a big deal to put them back on, but the rest I just pried up a little then locked them in place.

 

Somewhere in the beginning I said I'd update this and my experience with the RTT.
I would love to say it does this or it does that, but to be honest I think my opinion differs on my mood for the month about it, lol.

Let me talk about the Silverwing specifically for a second.
Metal lockdown brackets started rusting winter one. Not a big deal , but they are riveted. I think, for the price it was still good deal and got a lot of use. I'll probably be using it this summer.
Exterior clear coat is peeling off already. The mattress is pretty comfortable and interior has been fine. The profile is pretty good, but I do notice drag on highways.
It's relatively easy to open, and my initial review was it's simple to close. It's either become looser and harder with the angled arms or I'm getting tired of it. Not sure which.

Now as far as just a plain RTT. For me it's definitely has it's pro's and cons now after using it for a bit.
I like the simplicity of leaving bedding, pillows, etc., inside and having it ready to go with a 2-3 minute setup. It really frees up the bed space for coolers, bags, camping stuff or road trips with the family. Prior to an RTT, it was tent or sleeping in the bed which I either have to dump everything out to sleep in or sleep on the ground in the tent, when family is with me.
The RTT is a MUCH cleaner environment and does not cause me to spend HOURS washing clothes, bedding, tent, and drying it. That is what I hated about tent camping is the constant dirt and cleanup when I get home and it was never very comfortable and continues to get worse the older I get. And, I'm not that old

With my 100 lb lab in the truck and me in the RTT, with him moving, circling, licking, scratching it moves the truck quite a bit. I'm a light sleeper so it wakes me up. The airbags with a lot of pressure when parked help out quite a bit. But i'm nitpicking now.

Having to close it up to move or drive anywhere gets old, but I'm being a Nancy about it. It doesn't take THAT much time, just a lot of shuffling around and it's way easier with two people.

Ultimately my old Tundra and Tacoma with the longer bed and camper shell was perfect. I'd leave everything setup in the bed(with a twin mattress), park and sleep. But, the dog got everything either wet or dirty. So for my situation it's not ideal nowadays, but with no dog and solo trips it was my favorite setup.

Not sure what the future holds. For now it works, but once it's on for the summer, it's on. It's just awkward enough to make it a pain in the ass to remove it and reinstall it for weekends and vacation. SO I just leave it on and can now understand why most people do the same.

Overall it's an option and just that. Take the pro's with the cons. I'll use it until I get frustrated or just want to try another type of setup.

[/QUOTE]


Edited *****took it back to Costco today. The clear coat was shot!

 

I will echo some of @NoRcptn sediments. I started by sleeping in the bed of my Tacoma with a truckbedzzz and what a pain in the ass it was to clear everything from the bed of the truck to set up the sleeping situation. But that’s when it was just me and my 80lb lab.

Now with a beautiful woman and another dog it was time to upgrade the situation a little bit. We put the Rtt on the Tacoma and when loaded up for a weekend camping the power just wasn’t there.enter the Tundra. Knowing we roll 2 dogs in kennels there was so much wasted space above the kennels. Pulled the trigger on the decked system and LOVE it!

we really like the RTT and usually take bikes with us to go away from camp when the tents popped. The pita comes from emptying the Rtt with pee bottles and Gatorade’s end personal protection and dirty undies than the actual collapsing. I’ve got it down to 10 minutes closing it up by myself. Much easier with 2 people for sure. We’ve actually been looking to upgrade the tent with a hard shell.

it usually stays on there all summer bc like said it’s awful to put it on and off. I’m actually going to build a carport to use a winch system to make it easier and only one person to take it on and off.

Looking into campers, but steering clear of those damn things with the expense and problems and they come with. Bathroom was the only thing she needs but bought her a shewee and will be using the annex and a bumper dumper or something.

 

Hahah.
Laughing at the Gatorade bottles. Ladders and jacked knees don’t work week at 2am.

 

I use a large blue Nalgene bottle. Hides the color and holds a nights worth of an aging bladder.

 

I use Nalgene bottles for water. I sure would hate to get those mixed up!

 

Yeah would not be good, that's why I only have one Nalgene bottle. If I had more would just remember the blue one is not for drinking.

 

Haha the Gatorade is for the hang over. We use a large screw top bottle for me to pee in the she has some cradle bottle she can pee in on her knees then she pours it into my pee. There’s been a night or two we almost filled that 2 liter bottle. Zero chance I’m crawling out at 4am with a screaming headache down the ladder! I’ve mistaken a spit cup Gatorade bottle for water once, never drank my pee, yet.

 

At a girl . She’s a keeper.

 

That's right! Hell I proposed to her as she was climbing down the ladder from setting up the tent for a weekend.

 

Well. I took the RTT back to Costco. Maybe don't try the Silverwing RTT. I started noticing the clearcoat had a few bubbles, seriously quarter siz, in June. Had it off the truck for most of the summer on my side yard under a shade tree. The clear coat just got way worse. I hadn't really looked at it in a while There was a bunch of stuff blocking the view. I was cleaning up the yard today and got my first long glance at it. Holy crap! I ended up calling Costco and asked them if they was a manufacture warranty or if I could even return it, since it was 2 years old. They called me back and said just return it, full refund.
So, I took it back today. Kind a crazy how it went so fast. Oh well, time to rethink the setup. BTW Costco was awesome. I've never really returned anything big before and heard they had a good policy. Today they proved it.

 

What am I looking at? Looks like you put a clear plastic sheet over it for storage. That's the clearcoat?!?! WOW.

 

Right? Never seen anything like this. It has been really hot here . 34 days over 100 or something like that. It’s mostly in the shade though. I guess just a little spot was enough to start the process.

 

That looks like the plastic film on TV screens that is so satisfying to peel off. If that's clearcoat that's a huge problem!

 

Yeah I took off the protective part your talking about during unboxing . That’s the clear coat .

 

Just wondering, considering this set up. However the only option for the front window is a sliding one because it won’t be able to drop down due to the aluminum frame of the HD. How hard is it to clean the windows for the camper and truck? What is your solution for that?

 

Correct only slider is available. The only thing I can’t clean is the tundra window. I use my pressure washer form inside the camper shell at an angle. It gets it clean enough. The setup is good. But you do lose space with the internal frame. If you have a lightweight clamshell RTT that’s under 200 lbs, I think you can skip the CX HD. If not or you want the extra capacity it’s fine.
I’ve actually been considering a Super Pacific shell instead.